Brewing device for producing a beverage

ABSTRACT

A brewing device for producing a beverage from two differently sized capsules; the brewing device comprising two parts opposite and mutually movable between an open or loading position of a capsule and a closing or brewing position, one of the two parts defined by a cup-shaped body formed by a first portion and by a second portion defining between them a seat designed to receive the capsule during a movement of the cup-shaped body towards said closing position; the second portion designed to slide with respect to the first portion between a smaller seat position and a larger seat position due to the interaction with the larger capsule during the movement of the cup-shaped body towards the closing position; and a blocking device provided to define, in the closing position, a constraint to keep the second portion still only when the second portion is in the normal smaller seat position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from European patent applicationNo. 17197376.1 filed on 19 Oct. 2017 and from Italian Patent ApplicationNo. 102018000001512 filed on 19 Jan. 2018, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a brewing device for producing abeverage from disposable capsules containing a dose of brewable orsoluble material, e.g. coffee powder, tea, chocolate, milk, etc.

In particular, the present invention relates to a brewing devicesuitable for producing a beverage from two differently sized capsulesand comprising two parts that are mutually movable between an openposition, in which they define a loading zone adapted to accommodate anew capsule, and a closing position, in which the capsule is clampedbetween the two parts and a dose of infusion fluid can be injected intothe capsule for producing the beverage.

STATE OF THE ART

Normally, in known brewing devices accommodating two differently sizedcapsules, one of the two aforesaid parts is defined by a cup-shapedbody, which is sized to at least partially accommodate the capsule andis formed by two elements movable one with respect to the other in orderto adapt the inner space of the cup-shaped body designed to contain thecapsule to the size of the capsule accommodated.

Brewing devices of this type are known, for example, from EP 2906092B,WO 2014/56810 and EP 2908706B.

In these brewing devices, the displacement of the aforesaid two elementsdefining the cup-shaped body normally takes place by means of adedicated motorized actuator, controlled by sophisticated electroniccontrol systems.

Moreover, the brewing devices of the aforesaid type usually comprise aloading device suitable to receive a capsule from above and to hold itin a position more or less coaxial with the longitudinal axis of thebrewing device.

It is known the use of a loading device comprising a gripper deviceprovided with two jaws, symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of thelongitudinal axis of the device and each provided with a curved groovedefining with the other groove an upwardly open seat adapted toaccommodate the flange of the capsule to hold it in a loading position.The jaws are hinged on respective stationary pins to swing, normallyagainst the action of an elastic member, between a closing position, inwhich they support the capsule, and an open position, in which they arespread apart to allow a cup-shaped body carried by one of the two partsof the brewing device to be inserted between the jaws and to accommodatethe capsule, thus tight-sealing it with respect to the other part of thebrewing device.

Brewing devices provided with loading devices of this type are known,for example, from WO 2013/150480, EP 2425753 and EP 2103236.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a brewing device thatis capable to receive capsules of two different sizes and represents asimple and inexpensive alternative to the aforesaid known solutions.

According to the present invention, there is provided a brewing deviceaccording to claim 1 and, preferably, to any one of the subsequentclaims directly or indirectly dependent from claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing a non-limiting embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in a longitudinal section and with parts removed forclarity, a preferred embodiment of the brewing device of the presentinvention, arranged in a capsule loading configuration;

FIGS. 2 to 5 show the brewing device of FIG. 1 in further differentoperating configurations;

FIG. 6 shows the brewing device of FIG. 1 arranged in a loadingconfiguration when a capsule of bigger size is used;

FIGS. 7 to 10 show the brewing device of FIG. 6 in further differentoperating configurations;

FIG. 11 is a section along line XI-XI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a section along line XII-XII of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 13 and 14 show, in a perspective view and with parts removed, thebrewing device of FIG. 1 arranged in the operating arrangement of FIG.11 and, respectively, of FIG. 12; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 show, in a perspective view, a detail of the brewingdevice of FIG. 1 arranged in respective operating configurationscorresponding to the operating arrangements shown in FIG. 13 and,respectively, in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 references as a whole a brewing devicefor producing a beverage by injection of an infusion fluid, typicallypressurized hot water, into a disposable capsule 2 containing a dose ofbrewable or soluble material, e.g. coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, etc.

In particular, the brewing device 1 is configured to automaticallyperform a brewing process starting from capsules 2 of the known typecomprising a cup-shaped body and a cover, tight-sealed to an outerannular flange of the cup-shaped body and consisting of a perforablemembrane.

Preferably, the cup-shaped body is made of impermeable plastic material,preferably by thermoforming, and the perforable membrane is formed by asingle or multi-layer sheet of plastic and/or metal material.

According to the attached Figures, the brewing device 1 comprises twoparts 3 and 4 aligned along a longitudinal axis 5 and mutually movablebetween an open position (FIGS. 1 and 6), in which the parts 3 and 4 arespaced apart and define therebetween a space for loading a capsule 2,and a closing position (FIGS. 4 and 9), in which the parts 3 and 4 aretightened one against the other and define between them an infusionchamber enclosing the capsule 2.

One of the two parts of the brewing device 1, indicated by referencenumeral 3 in the accompanying Figures, comprises a transverse body 6,which is arranged at an axial end of the brewing device and is bounded,on the side facing the other part of the brewing device 1, by a flatsurface 7 transverse to the longitudinal axis 5. The other part of thebrewing device 1, indicated by reference numeral 4 in the accompanyingFigures, comprises a cup-shaped body 8, which is coaxial with thelongitudinal axis 5, is oriented with its end opening towards thetransverse body 6 and is mounted on a frame 9 of the brewing device 1 tomove along the longitudinal axis 5 between a retracted position, whichcorresponds to the open position of the brewing device 1, and anadvanced position, in which the brewing device 1 is or is not in theaforementioned closing position, as better explained below.

During the displacement from the retracted position to the advancedposition, the cup-shaped body 8 engages the capsule 2 that has beenpreviously loaded between the parts 3 and 4 with its symmetry axiscoaxial with the longitudinal axis 5 and with the perforable membranefacing part 3. The capsule 2 axially enters the cup-shaped body 8 untilthe flange of the capsule 2 engages a free edge 8E of the cup-shapedbody 8; from this point onwards, the cup-shaped body 8 moves, togetherwith the capsule 2, towards the transverse body 6 until the perforablemembrane of the capsule 2 is brought against the flat surface 7 of thetransverse body 6.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying Figures,the transverse body 6 carries an injection assembly 9 of an infusionfluid, normally pressurized hot water. The injection assembly 9comprises at least one injection needle 10, which is connected to aninfusion fluid supply circuit (not shown) and is arranged on thetransverse body 6 to pierce the perforable membrane of the capsule 2when the cup-shaped body 8 reaches the advanced position.

The injection needle 10 extends through a movable body 11, which is partof the transverse body 6, is preferably, but not necessarily, coaxialwith the longitudinal axis 5 and is bounded, on the side facing thecup-shaped body 8, by the aforementioned flat surface 7 of thetransverse body 6. The movable body 11 constitutes the movable part of ahydraulic cylinder and for this purpose is slidably mounted along thelongitudinal axis inside a cavity of the transverse body 6. In use, whenthe cup-shaped body 8 is in the advanced position and keeps the flangeof the capsule 2 against the flat surface 7, an operating fluid is fedbetween the movable body 11 and the bottom of the cavity to move themovable body 11 towards the cup-shaped body 8, thus tight-sealing theflange of the capsule 2 between the flat surface 7 and the free edge 8Eof the cup-shaped body 8 and bringing the brewing device 1 into saidclosing position.

According to an embodiment not shown, the transverse body 6 is devoid ofthe movable body 11 and the injection needle 10 extends through astationary portion of the transverse body 6 delimited by theaforementioned flat surface 7 with respect to the cup-shaped body 8. Inthis case, the tightness on the flange 2 is only guaranteed by thethrust of the cup-shaped body 8 against the transverse body 6.

According to a further embodiment not shown, the flat surface 7 of thetransverse body 6 is formed on a plate, which is mounted by means ofsprings on the transverse body 6 to move, during operation, under thethrust of the cup-shaped body 8, from a covering position, in which theplate covers the free end of the injection needle 10, to an injectionposition, in which the plate is pressed against the transverse body 6and the injection needle extends through an opening of the plate topierce the capsule 2.

In the case where, as in the shown example, the transverse body 6 bringsan injection assembly, the cup-shaped body 8 carries an extractionassembly comprising at least one extraction needle 12 and one dischargechannel for beverage outflow.

According to an embodiment not shown, the injection assembly and theextraction assembly can be reversed, i.e. the injection needle 10 can becarried by the cup-shaped body 8 and the extraction needle 12 can becarried by the transverse body 6. However, also in this embodiment, whathas been previously described and what will be later explained about thestructural features of the transverse body 6 and of the cup-shaped body8 remains conceptually valid.

According to the attached Figures, the brewing device 1 is designed toproduce a beverage starting from differently sized capsules 2, whichwill be indicated for clarity as capsule 2A (FIGS. 1 to 5) and capsule2B (FIGS. 6 to 10). In particular, the capsule 2A has a shorter height,measured along the longitudinal axis of the capsule, than the capsule2B.

Preferably, moreover, the diameter of the flange of the capsule 2A issmaller than the diameter of the flange of the capsule 2B.

In order to receive both types of capsule 2, the cup-shaped body 8comprises two cup-shaped elements arranged one inside the other andmutually movable, thus defining on a case-by-case basis a seat AB havinga size adequate to contain the capsule 2A or 2B to be extracted.

One of the two cup-shaped elements is defined by an outer cup 13, whoseconcavity faces the transverse body 6 and which comprises a side wall 14coaxial with the longitudinal axis 5 and a bottom wall 15 transverse tothe longitudinal axis 5.

The other cup-shaped element is defined by an inner cup 16, which isarranged inside the outer cup 13 with its concavity facing thetransverse body 6 and is defined by a side wall 17 slidingly coupled tothe side wall 14 of the outer cup 13 and by a bottom wall 18 transverseto the longitudinal axis 5.

The free edge of the outer cup 13 facing the transverse body 6 is formedby the aforementioned free edge 8E of the cup-shaped body 8, which, asalready stated, is able to compress the flange of the capsule 2 againstthe flat surface 7 of the transverse body 6 when the brewing device 1moves into the closing position.

The inner cup 16 is mounted to slide inside the outer cup 13 between anextracted position, in which the bottom wall 18 of the inner cup 16 isspaced apart from the bottom wall 15 of the outer cup 13 and the twocups define therebetween a “smaller” seat AB, and a retracted position,in which the bottom wall 15 of the inner cup 16 contacts the bottom wall18 of the outer cup 13 and the two cups define therebetween a “larger”seat AB.

The inner cup 16 is normally maintained in the advanced position by anelastic member 19, for example a helical spring, arranged between thebottom wall 15 of the inner cup 16 and the bottom wall 18 of the outercup 13.

The seat AB defined by the inner cup 16 and by the outer cup 13 has adepth that is equal to the distance between the bottom of the inner cup16 and the free edge 8E of the outer cup 13. According to whatpreviously stated, this distance is variable and dependent on theposition, extracted or retracted, of the inner cup 16 with respect tothe outer cup 13. In particular, the inner cup 16 and the outer cup 13are sized so that, when the inner cup 16 is in the extracted position,the depth of the seat AB is approximately equal to the height of thecapsule 2A and, in the retracted position, is approximately equal to theheight of the capsule 2B.

The bottom wall 18 of the inner cup 16 has a preferably cylindricalappendix 20, which, starting from the bottom wall 18, extends parallelto the longitudinal axis 5, through and beyond the bottom wall 15 of theouter cup 13, and presents centrally an elongated slit 21 parallel tothe longitudinal axis 5.

The brewing device 1 further comprises an actuator 22 for moving thecup-shaped body 8 to and from the transverse body 6.

The actuator 22 comprises a linkage 23 arranged between a stationary pin24 integral with the frame 9 and the bottom wall 15 of the outer cup 13.

The linkage 23 comprises a crank 25 fitted on the pin 24 and a pair ofparallel connecting rods 26 (only one of which is visible in theattached Figures) having an end hinged to the free end of the crank 25by means of a pin 27 and the opposite end hinged to the bottom wall 15of the outer cup 13 by means of a pin 28, which is transverse to thelongitudinal axis 5 and rotatably engages two holes formed in respectivebrackets integral with the bottom wall 15. According to an embodiment(not shown), there is a single connecting rod 26 and, consequently,there is a single bracket carried by, and axially projecting from, theouter cup 13.

Moreover, the pin 28 rotatably and slidingly engages the slit 21 of theappendix 20 to define, together with the appendix 20, a linear andanti-rotational guide for the inner cup 16.

The stationary pin 24 on which the crank 25 is hinged is operable by anelectric operating device or, as in the shown example, by a manualoperating lever, which is formed by the cover 29 of the brewing device 1and is connected to the pin 24 by means of a plurality of connectingrods (not shown).

Finally, the brewing device 1 comprises a blocking device 30, whosefunction is axially blocking the inner cup 16 in its extracted positionwhen the seat houses a capsule 2A, i.e. the capsule with a shorterheight, and the brewing device 1 is in the closing position. The axialblock of the inner cup 16 realized by the blocking device 30 isnecessary to prevent the axial thrust imparted to the capsule 2A by thepressurized fluid injected therein from moving back the inner cup 16,thus causing a sudden unwanted extension of the seat AB that houses thecapsule 2A.

The blocking device 30 is configured so that it does not require adedicated actuation device to become operative, but is automaticallyactivated when the seat AB houses a capsule 2A and is not activated whenthe seat AB houses a capsule 2B.

In particular, the blocking device 30 is normally arranged in anoperative or blocking configuration, which so that, if maintained,causes the blocking device 30 to engage, when the brewing device 1 is inthe closing position, the inner cup 16 to prevent the backward movementof the latter towards the bottom of the outer cup 13. In particular, inthis blocking configuration and in the closing position of the brewingdevice 1, the blocking device 30 defines an abutment arranged in contactwith the free distal end of the appendix 20 of the inner cup 16.

The blocking device is configured to move from the normal blockingconfiguration to a disengaged configuration in response to the backwardmovement of the inner cup 16 when a capsule 2B enters the inner cup 16while closing the brewing device 1.

In particular, the blocking device 30 is connected to the linkage 23 soas to move during the advancement of the cup-shaped body 8 towards thetransverse body 6 through the path that the appendix 20 of the inner cup16 follows when, and only when, the inner cup 16 moves back towards thebottom of the outer cup 13.

Therefore, if a capsule 2A is used, when closing the brewing device 1the inner cup 16 does not move back and the blocking device 30 is freeto move through said path until stopping, when the cup-shaped body 8 isin the advanced position, in the aforementioned blocking position, wherethe blocking device 30 engages the distal end of the appendix 20, thusdefining said axial abutment.

If, on the other hand, a capsule 2B is used, the inner cup 16 is forcedto move back during the advancement of the cup-shaped body 8 and,consequently, the appendix 20 moves back along said path. Since, aspreviously stated, the blocking device 30 is connected to the linkage 23so as to move through the path of the appendix 20 during the extensionof the connecting rods 26, if this path is already occupied by theretracted appendix 20, the advancement of the blocking device 30 isprevented and the blocking device 30 is forced to move from the normalblocking configuration to the disengaged configuration.

Therefore, when using a capsule 2B, the blocking device 30 does notdefine an axial abutment for the inner cup 16, as it occurs when using acapsule 2A, and, consequently, does not perform any function ascontrasting element against the thrust forces imparted to the inner cup16 during the injection of the pressurized fluid. However, in this casethis function is performed by the outer cup 13, since the cups are sizedso that, when a capsule 2B is completely inserted into the cup-shapedbody 8, the bottom wall 18 of the inner cup 16 abuts against the bottomwall 15 of the outer cup 13.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in the attached Figures, theblocking device 30 is hinged on the pin 28 between the two connectingrods 26 and comprises:

-   -   two side walls 31, each of which is arranged between a        connecting rod 26 and the appendix 20 of the inner cup 16 and        has a hole slidably engaged by the pin 28;    -   a transverse wall 32, which connects the two side walls 31 and        defines, when the blocking device 30 is inserted and the brewing        device 1 is in the closing position, said axial abutment        configured to engage the free distal end of the appendix 20;    -   an elastic retention and return element 33, preferably two        springs extending between the blocking device 30 and the        connecting rods 26 adapted to normally maintained the blocking        device 30 in the blocking configuration, in which each side wall        31 extends along, and in front of, a corresponding connecting        rod 26 and the transverse wall 32 is arranged between the        connecting rods 26 and transversely extends between the two        connecting rods 26.

The blocking device 30 further comprises an abutment element to keep theblocking device 30 stable when it is arranged in the blockingconfiguration. The abutment element is preferably defined by twoprojections 34, each of which is carried by a respective side wall 31and, in the blocking configuration, is coupled to an upper edge of arespective connecting rod to prevent the blocking device 30 fromrotating around the pin 28 under the thrust of the springs 33.

FIGS. 1-5 show the brewing device 1 when a capsule 2A is used, whileFIGS. 6-10 show the brewing device 1 when a capsule 2B is used.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the brewing device 1 is further providedwith a retaining device 35, which comprises two jaws 36 hinged onrespective stationary pins 37 to support both transversely and axiallythe capsule 2 in a loading position interposed between the cup-shapedbody 8 and the transverse body 6, and to allow, at the end of thebeverage dispensing process, the axial extraction of the capsule 2 fromthe cup-shaped body 8 with consequent expulsion by gravity of thecapsule 2.

In particular, the jaws 36 are rotatably mounted about the pins 37 andagainst the action of respective elastic elements 38 between a closed orloading configuration (FIGS. 2, 7, 11 and 12), in which they engage theflange of the capsule 2 to support this latter arranged with itsperforable membrane facing the transverse body 6, and an open ordisengaged configuration, in which the jaws 36 are spaced apart by thecup-shaped body 8, which, during the closing phase of the brewing device1, advances between the jaws 36 to determine the insertion of thecapsule 2 into the seat AB, and, when the brewing device 1 is in theclosing position, pushes the flange of the capsule 2 against the flatsurface 7 of the transverse body 6.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the jaws 36 are provided with respectivegrooves 36 a, lying on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 5and closed at the bottom by a curved portion to define a seat designedto receive from above the flange of the capsule 2 from above and to holdit in the loading position.

Moreover, when the cup-shaped body 8 moves back, the jaws 36 areconfigured to engage the face of the flange opposite the one facing thetransverse body 6 to prevent the capsule 2 from moving back togetherwith the cup-shaped body 8 and therefore cause the capsule 2 toprogressively come out from the cup-shaped body 8. Once completelyextracted from the cup-shaped body 8, the exhausted capsule 2 has nofurther support and falls under the effect of gravity.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the brewing device 1 further comprises aloading device 39, whose function is receiving a new capsule 2 andguiding the free fall of the capsule 2 to the retaining device 35.Preferably, the loading device 39 is shaped so as to allow the capsule 2to be inserted into the brewing device 1 only if the capsule is arrangedaccording to a determined orientation, namely with its longitudinal axissubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 5 and with itsperforable membrane facing the transverse body 6.

In order to allow the correctly oriented insertion of both the smallercapsules 2A and the larger capsules 2B, the loading device 39 comprisesan opening 40, which is provided at the top of the brewing device 1under the cover 29 and is shaped and sized to receive with relativeaccuracy a larger capsule 2B having the aforementioned orientation. Theloading device 39 further comprises a reducer/adapter 41, whichcomprises an annular element designed to engage the opening 40 withrelative accuracy so as to define an opening shaped and sized to receivea smaller capsule 2A arranged according to the aforementionedorientation.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, thereducer/adapter 41 is mounted on the brewing device 1 so that, when thecover 29 is lowered, it engages the opening 40 and is arranged over thepath of the cup-shaped body 8 so as not to hinder the movement of thislatter towards the transverse body 6 during the closing phase of thebrewing device 1.

However, when the cover 29 is raised, the reducer/adapter 41 can taketwo configurations depending on whether it has to be loaded a capsule 2Aor a capsule 2B. In particular, the reducer/adapter 41 can take alowered position (FIG. 13), in which it engages the opening 40 andallows the precise insertion of the capsule 2A, and a raised position,in which it is overturned towards the cover 29 and is fastened to thislatter by means of an easily removable coupling so as not to interferewith the opening 40 and allow the introduction of a capsule 2B into it.

Preferably, the cover 29 is mounted on the brewing device 1 to rotateabout an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis 5 and thereducer/adapter 41 is mounted on the brewing device 1 to rotate about anaxis parallel to the hinge axis of the cover 29 to swing between theraised and the lowered position. According to a preferred embodiment,the hinge axis of the reducer/adapter 41 coincides with the hinge axisof the cover 29.

The removable coupling that allows the reducer/adapter 41 to be fastenedto the cover 29 is configured not only to move the reducer/adapter 41from its raised position to its lowered position, but also to allow thereducer/adapter 41, when is coupled to the cover 29, to follow the cover29 in its opening and closing movements.

According to the preferred embodiment of the shown embodiment (FIGS. 2and 6), the rapidly removable coupling between the reducer/adapter 41and the cover 29 can comprise, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6-9, atooth 42 carried by the reducer/adapter 41 and adapted to slidablyengage a slot 43 formed on the cover 29. The user should justtransversely disengage the tooth 42 from the slot 43 to remove thecoupling.

Any other suitable coupling system can be used to removably connect thereducer/adapter 41 to the cover 29, for example a magnetic coupling, asin the example shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In addition to act as capsule inlet channel adapter, the reducer/adapter41 further serves to modify the configuration of the retaining device 35so that this latter is capable to receive and hold capsules of bothsizes. In fact, since, normally, the flange diameter of the caps 2A issmaller than the diameter of the flange of the cap 2B, it is necessarythat the jaws 36 of the retaining device 35 define therebetween a seathaving a size adequate to the size of the flange of the capsule in-usein order to hold the capsule in a determined position with respect tothe cup-shaped body 8 and to the transverse body 6.

For this purpose, the reducer/adapter 41 is configured to interact withthe jaws 36, when the reducer/adapter 41 is inserted in the opening 40and the jaws 36 are arranged in the aforementioned closed configuration,to move the jaws 36 from a normal closed arrangement, wherein the seatdefined by the grooves 36 a of the jaws 36 is suitable to receive theflange of a larger capsule 2B, to a closely-spaced closed arrangement,wherein the seat defined by the grooves 36 a of the jaws 36 is suitableto receive the flange of a smaller capsule 2A.

For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, each jaw 36 comprises anouter portion 44 hinged, at its upper end, on the relative pin 37, andan inner portion 45 also hinged on the pin 37 and being fitted, on theside facing the inner portion 45 of the other jaw 36, with the groove 36a of the respective jaw 36.

The spring 38 of each jaw 36 is interposed between the frame 9 and therespective outer portion 44 to bring the jaw 36 back from the openconfiguration to the loading configuration when the cup-shaped body 8moves back from the advanced position at the end of the dispensing step.

Each inner portion 45 is shaped like a rocker arm hinged to the pin 37and comprises an arm 45 a, which extends downwards from the pin 37 andcarries the groove 36 a, and an arm 45 b opposed to the arm 45 a andprovided with a magnet 46 at its free end.

The arms 45 b are arranged so that, when the cover 29 is raised and thereducer/adapter 41 is inserted into the opening 40, to load a capsule2A, the magnets 46 cooperate with respective ferromagnetic elements 47carried by the reducer/adapter 41 and cause the inner portions 45 torotate, in opposite directions, about the respective pins 37 so as tobring the arms 45 b, and therefore the grooves 36 a, closer together,and reduce the width of the seat defined by the grooves 36 a enough toreceive the flange of the capsule 2A and hold this latter in the loadingposition.

It should be noted that, although in the shown embodiment the jaws 36are mounted to rotate about stationary pivots 37 parallel to thelongitudinal axis 5 of the brewing device 1, the above is alsoapplicable, with appropriate modifications, to an embodiment (not shown)in which the jaws 36 are rotatable about respective stationary pinstransverse to the longitudinal axis 5 to swing between the closingposition and the open position on a plane parallel to, and preferablypassing through, the longitudinal axis 5.

Finally, the brewing device 1 preferably comprises a control device (notshown) suitable to recognize which capsule 2 is in-use and accordinglycontrol the infusion parameters.

The control device comprises a control unit and a pair of micro-switchesarranged in stationary positions under the cup-shaped body 8 andmutually aligned in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. Thecontrol device further comprises an actuator, integral with the innercup 16 of the cup-shaped body 8 and arranged so as to operate, duringoperation, one or the other of the two switches according to theposition of the inner cup 16 with respect to the outer cup 13 when thebrewing device 1 has reached the closing position.

For example, if a capsule 2A is used, the inner cup will be closer tothe transverse body 6 than when a capsule 2B is used and, therefore, theactuator will activate the micro-switch that is closest to thetransverse body 6. If instead a capsule 2B is used, the inner cup 16will be moved back towards the bottom of the outer cup 13 and thereforewill be further away from the transverse body 6 than when a capsule 2Ais used and then the actuator member will activate the micro-switch thatis furthest from the transverse body 6.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A brewing device for producing a beverage from twodifferently sized capsules, the brewing device comprising: two partsopposite and mutually movable between an open or loading position inwhich a capsule is loadable between the two parts, and a closing orbrewing position in which the two parts are coupled and definetherebetween a brewing chamber housing the capsule; one of the two partsof the brewing device includes a cup-shaped body including a firstportion and a second portion defining therebetween a seat designed toreceive the capsule during the movement of the cup-shaped body towardssaid closing position; the second portion is designed to slide withrespect to the first portion between a smaller seat position, in whichthe seat is sized to house a smaller capsule, and a larger seatposition, in which the seat is sized to house a larger capsule; andactuating means provided to move the cup-shaped body from the openposition to the closing position, and vice versa; wherein the firstportion includes an outer cup, which includes a side wall and a bottomwall, and the second portion comprises an inner cup, which is arrangedinside the outer cup and comprises a side wall slidably coupled to theside wall of the outer cup, and a bottom wall; the inner cup is normallyarranged in an extracted position, in which the inner cup and the outercup define therebetween said smaller seat position, and is mounted toslide inside the outer cup, as a result of the interaction of inner cupwith a larger capsule during the movement of the cup-shaped body towardsthe closing position, so as to move from the extracted position to aretracted position, in which the inner cup and the outer cup definetherebetween said larger seat position; wherein the actuating means areconfigured to keep the outer cup still in the closing position andinclude a blocking device configured to define, in the closing position,an axial block for the inner cup only when, in the closing position, theinner cup is arranged in the extracted position or smaller seatposition, so as to prevent the inner cup from backwardly moving towardsthe bottom wall of the outer cup under the thrust of the pressurizedfluid injected in the smaller capsule; and wherein the outer cup and theinner cup are so sized that, when, in the closing position, the innercup is in its retracted position or larger seat position, the bottomwall of the inner cup abuts against the bottom wall of the outer cup soas to prevent the inner cup from backwardly moving under the thrust ofthe pressurized fluid injected in the larger capsule.
 9. The brewingdevice of claim 8, wherein the blocking device is normally arranged in ablocking configuration in which the blocking device is able to definesaid axial block with respect to the inner cup and is movable from theblocking configuration to an unblocking configuration as a result of theinteraction with the second portion when the inner cup moves from theextracted position or smaller seat position to the retracted position orlarger seat position when the cup-shaped body moves towards the closingposition.
 10. The brewing device of claim 8, wherein the actuating meansinclude a linkage including a crank-connecting rod mechanism to move thecup-shaped body from and to the closing position; the blocking device ismounted on a connecting rod of the crank-connecting rod mechanism and isconfigured to form an axial shoulder engaged by the second portion whenthe cup-shaped body is in the closing position and the inner cup is inthe extracted position.
 11. The brewing device of claim 9, wherein thesecond portion includes an appendix, which extends from the bottom wallof the inner cup through and beyond a bottom wall of the outer cup andis arranged to interact with the blocking device when the inner cupmoves from the extracted position or smaller seat position to theretracted position or larger seat position during the movement of thecup-shaped body towards the closing position, thus moving the blockingdevice from the normal blocking configuration to the unblockingconfiguration against the action of elastic means.
 12. The brewingdevice of claim 8, wherein the outer cup has an axially symmetrical axisand is provided with a free edge; and the inner cup is coaxial to theouter cup and has a bottom wall; the seat having a depth that isvariable based on the position of the inner cup with respect to theouter cup and is equal to an axial distance between the free edge of theouter cup and the bottom wall of the inner cup.
 13. The brewing deviceof claim 12, wherein the inner cup is kept in the normal extractedposition or smaller seat position by means of an elastic member arrangedbetween the outer cup and the inner cup.